Automobile signal



Jan. 6, Y1931.

A. MARcUsoN AUTOMQBILE SIGNAL Filed Nov. 16, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 6,

ALFRED MAneUsoN, or nxnrnr., canrrennm YnuroMoBILn SIGNAL ,i Application, lrec November 16, 1928. -Seral No. 319,847.

` The inventionl relates toV an automobile signal, and more especially to the 'class of direction indicators for use onr vehicles, particularlyautomobiles.

rlhe primary object of the invention is the provision ot' a signal or indicator of this character, wherein the construction thereof is of a kind to permit the attachment of the same to al vehicle without requirement of any changes or alterations in the standard makeup'ot such vehicle and will signal or indicate to the traliic 'following said vehicle the direction or course of the latter or whether a decrease in speed or a stop is -to be-eected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of'a signal ory indicator Vot this character, wherein on the attachment of the same f to a vehicle it can be readily and conveniently operated at the will of the driver or userrof '20.' the latter, thereby issuing selected signals indicative ofthe direction or" travel and speed of the vehicle as well'as bringing of the vehicle to a standstill, the signal or indicator being of novel form to assure of maximum visibility ellective signalling.

provision of a signal or indicator of this character, wlwrein automatic illumination of the sanie vmay be had, and this being under the control oil? the driver or user of theV ve-y hicle. i f

v A still further `'object-,ot the invention is the provision or' 4signaller indicator'. of this character, wherein a swinging element can be actuated to indicate to advancing traflic the course ot the vehicle bearing the signal or indicator, the element when at rest 1n nonsignailing position is concealed, while the light signal is'in t'ull view, so that when illunii-` 4o. nated 1s clearly visible to oncoming tratlic.

A still further object oi the invention is the provision ot a signal or indicator ot this character, which is extremely simple in construction, possessing but tow parts, thus en- V abling casu* asseniblageand attachment to a vehicle, thereughll'yv reliable and etlicient in its operations, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

lith these and other objects in view the .invention consists 1n the features of con- A vfurther object of the invention is theV struction, combination and arrangement et parts as willjbe hereinafter more 'fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preterred embodiment of theinvention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation oit th wind-shield of an automobile, showing the al or indicator constructed in accordaiice witlthe inen ventionattache'd, the swinging element oit the signal er indicator being shown-by dottedi lines in its three signalling positions.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through the signal or indicater. Y Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section` Figure l is a top planview partly in section. f v

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail A, des ignates generally a portion of the wind-shield di of an automobile, which is of the usual con struction, andl, one side support or upright therefor, which is ,ordinarily carried by thev body-ot the vehicle.

Adapted to be removably supported upon :.c the support or upright B, is the signal or indicator, which comprises a. casing or housingr 10, preferably made .from sheet metal, although it may be inadefrom any other material, having suitably iixed therein a beara. i ing 11, provided at two sides thereof, these being at right angles to each other, and have gear spaces or chambers l2, and 13, respectively. The casing or housing l0, is carried on a bracket 14, et any desirable kind, which 1 C is adapted to be detachably engaged on the support or upright B, for the mounting ot the sigi'ialorindicator in proper position.`

F iXed to and depending` from the casing or housing l0, substantially vertical and par- .155

VLH

is rotatably supported upon a tubiform axle 22, mountedV in the bearing 11, and carried forwardly through the casing or housing 10, and rearwardly into the lamp house 17. This axle 22, is removably held in place through the medium of retaining nuts'23 and 24, respectively.

lWithin the lamp house 17 is an electric light socket 25, which is in alignment withY the axle 22, but insulated therefrom by an insulating washer 25, the socket 25, being fitted with an electric bulb 27, while within the axle 22, and insulated therefrom is a central electrical contact 28, which at its outer end is engaged with the terminal 29, of an electric lead from a source of current, the terminal being held in a cap 3,0, detachably threaded on the outer end of the` aXle 22.

The lamp house 17, is hinged at 31, to the `guard 15, so that said house can be opened for access to the bulb 27, the house being held closed by a latch 32.

Normally concealed in the guard 15, and fixed to the gear 21, is ar swinging signal or indicator arm 33, on the free end ofy which is pivoted a hand 34, the gear 21, when rotated moving the arm 33, to the positions shown by dotted lin-es in Figure 1, of the drawings or to concealed position with the guard 15.

To change the relation of the hand 34, .vith respect to arm 33, there is pivotaliy connected at 35, with said hand a vshift rod 36, which is eccentrically pivoted at 37 to the bearing 11, relative tothe axis of movement'of the gear 21, which will be clearly apparent from the showing in Figure 1, of the drawings. l

The lower portion of the lamp house 17, 1s cut-away to provide a light slot oropening 33, to permit light emitted bythe bulb 27, to illuminate the arm 33, when the same leaves the guard 15.

Extending into the lamp house 17, isa spring contact 39, which engages the insulation washer 25, and is adapted to wipe the outer periphery of the base fiange 40, of the light socket 25, the flange being mutilated at 41, so that as the arm 33, is swung to signalling position the contact wil'l act as a switch to close the circuit to the bulb 27, by grounding through the vehicle frame, but when saidv arm 3 3, is positioned in the guard 15, the mutilated portion 41, ofthe flange 40, is im- .5 mediately below the contact 39, and the flange if/evgees out of engagenient with the latter, thereby opening or breaking the circuit to the bulb, as will be apparent from the showing in Figure 3, of the drawings.

1t is of course understood that the contact 39, is formed from .the inner end of the arm selective signalling position shown by dotted' lines in Figure 1, of the drawings.

The position of the arm 33, and its hand 34, can be indicative of varying directions of travel of the vehicle as well as the slowing of the speed of the same or the stopping thereof.

The electric lead from the terminal 30, can be equipped with a suitable control switch, not shown, for control ofthe illumination of the bulb 27, at the will of' the driver or user of the vehicle.

Fromthe foregoing it is thought that the construction'and manner of operation of the signal or indicator will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

However, it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications of the invention can be made as come properly within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

In a signal of the kind described, a casing adapted to be mounted upon a support, and having a bearing therein forming chambers at right angles to eachl other, a channeled guard fixed to and depending from the casing, an operating shaft ournaled in the b-earing, meshing gears in the respective chambers, one gear being fixed to the shaft, a swinging signal arm, the other gear being fixed to the arm, and when actuated moves the latter into and outv of the channeled guard, a hand pivoted'eccentrically to the free end ofV the arm, vand va shift rod pivoted eccentrically to the bearing and to the hand for shifting the latter on relative movement of the signal arm.v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALFRED MARCSON. 

